Thursday 28 July 2011, 11:07 | By CMU Editorial

Nirvana’s Nevermind 20th anniversary edition details released

Releases

Full details of the previously reported 20th anniversary edition of Nirvana’s second album, ‘Nevermind’, have been announced. Originally released in September 1991 and now having sold over 30 million copies, the various collectors’ packages on offer will provide fans with access to B-sides, pre-production demos, early demos, session recordings, live tracks, and music videos. Basically, everything possible.

The centrepiece will be a deluxe package made up of four CDs and a DVD, which will include all of the above. A four LP heavyweight vinyl release will feature the same audio portions as that boxset, plus there will be double-CD and single-CD editions, and a DVD release of the previously unreleased ‘Live at The Paramount Theatre’ concert film, which is included in the deluxe edition.

In other related news, the artwork for the 20th anniversary release was apparently removed by Facebook after it was uploaded to the band’s official page due to the image of a naked child that adorns it apparently contravening the site’s terms of service. The image was later reinstated, though.

All the 20th anniversary releases will come out on 26 Sep.

U2 and Pearl Jam documentaries to be shown at Toronto film fest

Artist News Gigs & Festivals

A film following U2’s career from the release of 1991 album ‘Achtung Baby’ to the present day will open this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. Beginning on 8 Sep, this will be the first time in the festival’s 36 year history that it has been opened by a documentary.

Entitled ‘From The Sky Down’, the film was directed by Davis Guggenheim, best known for his Oscar-winning work ‘An Inconvenient Truth’, who told reporters: “In the terrain of rock bands – implosion or explosion is seemingly inevitable. U2 has defied the gravitational pull towards destruction, this band has endured and thrived. The movie ‘From The Sky Down’ asks the question why”.

Why, indeed. The festival will also feature a documentary about Pearl Jam’s 20 year career. Entitled ‘PJ20’, it was directed by former Rolling Stone editor Cameron Crowe. After its premiere at the film fest on 10 Sep, the movie will be rolled out across the US and then aired on PBS as part of the station’s ‘American Masters’ series on 21 Oct.

The trailer for that film features part of a tad awkward interview between PJ frontman Eddie Vedder and cult director David Lynch, and an appearance from Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell, and you can check it out here:

Pearl Jam Twenty from Pearl Jam on Vimeo.

Michael Jackson estate says it has no involvement in tribute show

Gigs & Festivals

The co-executors of the Michael Jackson estate, John Branca and John McClain, have released a statement confirming they have no involvement in the Michael Jackson tribute event that the late king of pop’s mother announced earlier this week. As previously reported, Katherine Jackson was joined by some of her other children to announce the ‘Michael Forever: The Tribute Concert’ event, which will take place in Cardiff on 8 Oct.

As also previously reported, two of Michael’s brothers not at the press conference, Jermaine and Randy, subsequently issued a statement saying they felt it was inappropriate to stage a big charity tribute show when Conrad Murray’s manslaughter trial in relation to their brother’s death was likely to still be going through the motions in court. Meanwhile Branca and McClain have now confirmed that the estate has no involvement in the event, and nor did they authorise the use of Michael’s name for it.

Jamie xx announces new live project

Gigs & Festivals

Producer and member of The xx, Jamie xx has announced details of a new live project, which will see him collaborate with multimedia artist Quayola. The show, entitled ‘Structures’, will be performed in a yet-to-be-revealed venue later this year and is part of Rizla’s RizLabs initiative. More details are revealed in interviews with Quayola and Jamie’s manager (and head of the Young Turk label, to which The xx are signed) Caius Pawson here.

Will Haven announce London show

Gigs & Festivals

Following the recent announcement of their first album with original vocalist Grady Avenell for a decade, ‘Voir Dire’, Will Haven have announced a one-off London show in November. This is very exciting. Are you excited? I am excited.

The gig will take place at the Islington Academy on 11 Nov. Tickets go on sale on Friday.

The recently CMU approved new track ‘Mira’s Secret’ can be heard on the band’s Facebook page now. ‘Voir Dire’ will be release by Bieler Bros on 10 Oct.

Festival line-up update – 28 Jul 2011

Artist News Festival Line-Up Update Gigs & Festivals

CONSTELLATIONS FESTIVAL, Leeds University, Leeds, 12 Nov: One-time Pavement frontman Stephen Malkmus will bring his current band The Jicks to this music and arts fusion fest. Constellations is also set to host further new additions including Three Trapped Tigers, Spectrals, Braids, Big Deal and Vondelpark. Wild Beasts, Yuck, and The Antlers comprise the top-notch trio of existing bill residents. www.constellationsfestival.com

READING AND LEEDS FESTIVALS, Richfield Avenue, Reading, Berkshire/Bramham Park, Leeds, West Yorkshire, 26-28 Aug: The BBC Introducing stage at this years Reading and Leeds dual festivals will welcome a fresh raft of names including Milk Maid, Spector, Don Broco and The Kill Van Kulls, who are all booked to appear at both sites. Those attending the Leeds leg only (sorry, southerners) will also be treated by a Dance To The Radio-hosted label showcase of performances from Young Knives, Dog Is Dead, We Are Losers and Runaround Kids. Long-standing Reading & Leeds headliners are My Chemical Romance, The Strokes, and Pulp, who top a bill that also features The National, Two Door Cinema Club, Thirty Seconds To Mars, and many more rock favourites. www.readingfestival.co.uk / www.leedsfestival.co.uk

SWN, Various Venues, Cardiff, Wales, 20-23 Oct: Chief cape getter Sam Duckworth and folk wonders Melody, Melodica And Me lead the latest acts booked for this diverse Welsh bash, with Zun Zun Egui, Veronica Falls and Three Trapped Tigers also featuring amongst the new introductees. Previously announced performers include The Fall, The Joy Formidable, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, And So I Watch You From Afar and The History Of Apple Pie. www.swnfest.com

Vinyl sales up 55%

Business News Labels & Publishers Retail

Vinyl sales were up 55% in the first half of the year, according to data from the Entertainment Retailers Association and Official Charts Company. And while they still remain a niche product overall, ERA stats also suggest many music fans will pay a premium to buy music on good old fashioned vinyl, even though many are likely to never actually put their records on a record player.

168,296 vinyl records were sold in the UK in the first half of 2011, compared with 108,307 in 2010. And ERA reckons consumers will pay on average £16.30 for a vinyl record, compared to £7.82 for CDs and £6.80 for digital. Radiohead alone contributed 20,771 of those vinyl units with their ‘King Of Limbs’ record, while limited edition vinyl releases for the increasingly popular Record Store Day helped boost the overall sales of the format too.

Commenting on these stats, ERA boss Kim Bayley told CMU: “Vinyl may still be a niche format, but it is growing fast. Whether it is the ‘warmer’ sound many music fans appreciate, the large-scale artwork of a twelve-inch sleeve or its sheer retro appeal, vinyl seems to be capturing the imagination of buyers despite the fact it typically costs twice as much as a CD containing exactly the same music. Much of the focus in the music industry [of late] has been on cutting prices, partly in response to the rise of internet piracy. The success of vinyl shows music buyers will pay a premium if we deliver them a package they really love”.

New cassette label launches

Business News Labels & Publishers

The guys behind Transgressive Records have teamed up with journalist and presenter Jen Long, perhaps best known for fronting BBC Introducing in Wales, to create a new cassette only record label.

Called Club Kissability, the first release on the new imprint will be DZ Deathray’s ‘Ruined For Life EP’ out on 19 Sep on a jazzy pink audio cassette. The tape will come with a QR code that will provide access to a bonus track download and full live set from the band, for those retro fans who don’t have a working tape player to actually play the main release on.

A second release, from Cut Ribbons, will follow in November.

More info here.

VEVO releases mobile stats

Digital

Music video platform VEVO has published some stats about its mobile apps, who’s using them, and how. The Mobile Attitudes & Usage study reveals that VEVO’s apps have been downloaded 7.5 million times, and in May the service delivered 85 million video streams to mobile phones.

Of the app users, 48% are aged between eighteen and 24, 66% are male, the average user in May spent 53 minutes using the app, and 79% of use takes place in the evening, most often in a user’s bedroom.

VEVO’s ad sales men will presumably be keen to suggest that means young male consumers are shunning traditional TV for mobile delivered video content, meaning advertisers should be shifting their telly ad spend over to services like those operated by the music video platform.

Lauryn Hill confirms Marley not father of new child

And Finally

As previously reported, there has been speculation as to whether Lauryn Hill’s long term on again, off again boyfriend Rohan Marley is the father of her latest child, he having fathered five other offspring with the one time Fugee. Marley, who is reportedly now in a relationship with another woman, denied this week that he was the father this time round.

And Hill has confirmed this, issuing a statement via her representatives’ Twitter account that read: “Contrary to the numerous reports, Mr Marley did not abandon me while pregnant with his child. We have had long periods of separation over the years but our five children together remain a joy to both of us. Thank you for your concern and I appreciate all of the well wishes regarding the birth of my new son”.

And in a rebuke to all those tedious media types who have been, erm, reporting on gossip about her relationship with Marley (you’d never get such tawdry journalism here folks), she added: “Mr Marley and I have a long and complex history about which MANY inaccuracies have been reported since the beginning. To speculate without the facts can only cause people to form WRONG conclusions. We both value privacy and for that reason defend and preserve our right to it”.

Dolly and the baby on the doorstep

And Finally

Dolly Parton has been talking to the Windy City Times about the more unusual fan-based events that have taken place in her long career, and recalls a day in 1974 when a fan left a baby on her doorstep.

Coming in the year when ‘Jolene’ and ‘I Will Always Love You’ were proving to be big hits for the country star, Parton told the paper: “We came home one day and there was a baby in a box at our gate with a note in it. The note said: ‘My name is Jolene, my momma has left me here and she wants you to have me’. Of course, we all freaked out!”

She continued: “We immediately called Human Services and took care of the baby until they got there. We never did know or hear anything about it … what do you do in a situation like that? There are some loony people in this world!”

Q&A: Raghu Dixit

Artist Interviews

One of India’s most famous contemporary musicians, Raghu Dixit is starting to gain wider recognition in the UK, thanks to appearances on Jools Holland and at Glastonbury and Latitude.

But Dixit, who performs with a loose line-up of musicians he calls The Raghu Dixit Project, is perhaps the most unlikeliest of rock stars. He grew up in a conservative Tamil household in the South Indian town of Mysore, studied to become a microbiologist, trained in the Indian classical dance of bharatanatyam, and didn’t get into Western music until his early 20s. In fact, he learned to play the guitar just to prove to a college friend that strumming a few chords was easier than mastering the complex foot patterns of bharatanatyam.

In a nod to his dancing days, a pair of ghungroos or anklets completes Dixit’s on-stage costume of a kurta and a lungi or Indian sarong. He sings in Hindi, in Kannada (the regional language of his home state of Karnataka), and in English, but whichever he chooses, Dixit has a voice that manages to cut through all barriers of language or culture. With his new double A-side single, ‘Hey Bhagwan/I’m In Mumbai’, out this week, a UK tour starting next week, and plans to complete his second album this autumn, we asked Raghu to answer our Same Six Questions.

Q1 How did you start out making music?
The music was always in me! It just took a little while to come out and make itself heard. In the meanwhile, life had taken me to Belgium where I was working as a microbiologist. It was there that one of my colleagues sent a song of mine to a local radio station and, looking at the fantastic response they got, convinced me to get back and follow my passion.

Q2 What inspired your latest album?
The songs were written over many years, between 1996 and 2008, so there was no single point of inspiration. It’s like a personal blog in a way. From a period when I just wanted to be heard. Each song has its own story, really. The lyrics to ‘Hey Bhagwan’ were written by Aditya Dhar, a guy who helped manage Antaragni, my band at the time; I picked them up from his desk and by the end of the day, I had composed the song. ‘Gudugudiya Sedi Nodo’ and ‘Soruthihudu Maneya Maligi’ are Kannada folk songs that were being sung by other popular singers but in a very different format. I sang them in a contemporary style. And ‘Mumbai, Waiting For A Miracle’ is about the innumerable times I came to Mumbai with a new demo CD in search of a record contract.

Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track?
There is no one single process. Sometimes, I hit on a melody and try and write words that fit. Now I’m digging into ancient Kannada poetry and working on how to make music around it. It’s very instinctive and spontaneous, and not like sitting in a lab and working on bacterial culture! You just need your mind to be free, and uncluttered. The music just comes.

Q4 Which artists influence your work?
More than artists, it’s always been the country [India]. There is no one particular musician whose compositional style has influenced me. Because I didn’t have a tape recorder at home, I did not listen to popular music while growing up. My parents were strict about us not listening to Western music. This forced me to be original and develop my own style.

Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
You’re definitely going to have a good time, and experience an unbridled sense of freedom and absolute joy. Some of the hooks will get stuck in your head. That’s a warning.

Q6 What are your ambitions for your latest album, and for the future?
There are huge expectations, so I want to not get affected by the pressure. The aim is for us to sound as natural as we are on stage… to play a live gig in the studio. The plan is to record in September and October and release the album in India at the NH7 Weekender festival in Pune in November. The ambition is to reach out to a larger audience, even though we’re not a mainstream band, a Nickelback or Britney Spears. We’ve given ourselves a year for India, and another year for the rest of the world. Meanwhile, my Bollywood project should be out next month. And I’m working at the Southbank Centre in London with Bellowhead and Indian classical dancer Gauri Sharma Tripathi on a musical that will premiere at the next Alchemy festival.

MORE>> raghudixit.com

Approved: St Vincent

CMU Approved

Manhattan-based singer-songwriter St Vincent has made her brand new song ‘Surgeon’ available for free download. A skewed fusion of old-world orchestral grandeur and angular electronic sounds, the track will appear on St Vincent’s forthcoming third LP ‘Strange Mercy’ upon its 12 Sep release date. ‘Surgeon’ could only be ‘unlocked’ if enough fans tweeted the hashtag #strangemercy on Twitter, which, judging by its present state of liberation, they did.

St Vincent, whose track ‘The Strangers’ was sampled by Kid Cudi on ‘MANIAC’, also worked with Bon Iver on ‘Roslyn’, a contribution to the second ‘Twilight Saga’ installment ‘New Moon’. So you see, her collaborative credentials are equally as imposing as her solo work. Sample a slice of the latter, along with some cute, cryptic, conceptual (and sometimes downright creepy) teaser clips, here on the official St Vincent site.

Amy Winehouse’s funeral takes place in London

Lauryn Hill sued by guitarist

Legal

According to TMZ, Lauryn Hill is being sued by her former guitarist Jay Gore, who claims he has not been paid for a gig he performed with the singer back in 2007. In legal papers, the guitar man says he worked with Hill for two weeks and was supposed to be paid $3590, but has never received any payment at all. Hill has not yet responded.

To be fair, she’s just given birth to her sixth child, so is possibly too busy to be responding to lawsuits from former collaborators. Talking of which, and while it’s not really any of our business, there has been speculation as to who the father of this latest Hill baby might be after the singer’s on/off/on-again/off-again boyfriend, and the father of her other five children, Rohan Marley, said he wasn’t the daddy this time round. Then again, as he’s reportedly in a relationship with another woman at the moment, perhaps that’s not surprising.

T-Pain sues Auto-tune maker

Legal

Rapper T-Pain has launched legal action against Antares Technologies, the creator of the Auto-tune effect. He claims that the company has continued to use his image to promote the product, despite their partnership deal now having come to an end. As previously reported, T-Pain recently launched his own rival voice manipulation software, ‘The T-Pain Effect’, with technology company Izotope.

According to AllHipHop.com, the lawsuit accuses Antares of continuing to use T-Pain’s image and likeness in advertising for both Auto-tune and other products, and of licensing his name and image to third parties without permission.

The rapper is seeking $1 million in damages, plus an injunction preventing Antares from directly associating him with any of its products.

Coheed And Cambria bassist released on bail

Legal

Coheed And Cambria bassist Michael Todd has been released on $25,000 bail, following his arrest for armed robbery and unlawful possession of prescription drugs earlier this month.

As previously reported, shortly before the band were due to support Soundgarden at the Comcast Center in Attleboro, Todd entered a pharmacy and showed the pharmacist a note on his mobile phone which said he had a bomb, and that he’d detonate it if he wasn’t given several bottles of the painkiller tablet Oxycontin. He fled in a taxi with six bottles of the pills, but was later arrested after being identified by the pharmacist and the taxi driver on CCTV footage of the robbery.

The band distanced themselves from the bassist following his arrest, saying in a statement that they would continue their US tour with a replacement.

Todd is now due back in court on 9 Aug.

Amy Winehouse rises up single and album charts

Artist News

As expected, Amy Winehouse’s records have seen a boost in sales following her death on Saturday. According to The Official Chart Company, she is set to have seven singles in the top 40 on Sunday, and fourteen in the top 200.

Her ‘Back To Black’ album is likely to reach the top five (and may knock Adele off the number one position), while her debut, ‘Frank’, will be in the top 20. A combined set featuring both albums is also likely to make the top ten. OCC MD Martin Talbot told CMU: “The British public is showing just how much they loved Amy’s music, with ‘Back To Black’ clearly their favourite single and album”.

Noel Gallagher has written third solo album

Artist News

Earlier this month, Noel Gallagher revealed that he will release two solo albums in the next six months, one with psychedelic rock outfit Amorphous Androgynous. However, he has now revealed that prior to entering the studio, he had also written a third.

Speaking to Q, he said: “Now I’m a free agent I thought: ‘I’ve got all these songs, so I’ll make two records’. But between you and me, I made three. The third was going to be called ‘The Future Of Martial Arts’. I had nine great songs but had to split them up. I wanted to do some work with Amorphous Androgynous, so I made the albums concurrently. It was really exciting being that creative, but by the end I was sick of it”.

Linkin Park working on new album

Artist News

Linkin Park are working on their fifth album with producer Rick Rubin.

Frontman Chester Bennington told Rolling Stone: “I can tell you that we have a lot of good music, a lot of quality songs. Mike [Shinoda] and I are out there with our studios. Technology, thank God, has gotten to the point when what used to be three refrigerator-sized racks of equipment and a full board the size of a king bed can now fit in my back pack – and we’re working on new music as we’re driving in the car to a venue or in our hotel room, and when we come home, everybody works in their homes”.

Mastodon announce album details

Releases

Mastodon have announced details of their fifth album, ‘The Hunter’. The LP will be released through Roadrunner Records on 26 Sep. A limited edition package is available to download from the band’s website.

The first single from the album, ‘Black Tongue’, is available from iTunes now (and as an instant download for those who pre-order the album from the band’s website). The track can be heard on the video below, which shows the creation of the sculpture that appears on the album’s cover by artist AJ Fosik.

Death In Vegas announce new album

Releases

Death In Vegas have announced that they will release a new album, entitled ‘Trans Love Energies’, through Drone Records on 26 Sep. This will be their first album since 2004’s ‘Satan’s Circus’. A UK tour is also due to be announced soon. The first single from the album, ‘Your Loft’, which features vocals from Austra’s Katie Stelmanis, will be released the week before the album on 19 Sep. However, you can hear it right now via SoundCloud:

Your Loft by Death In Vegas

Xzibit announces UK tour

Gigs & Festivals

Xzibit will tour the UK in October, it has been announced. Tickets are due to go on sale on Friday.

Promising that fans will be treated to some excellent performances, the rapper said: “I still love it as much as I did when I first burst through the door, and I’m going to keep spitting like I’m that unsigned kid desperate to showcase himself”.

Tour dates:

19 Oct: Glasgow, ABC
20 Oct: Bristol, Academy
21 Oct: Birmingham, Institute
22 Oct: Manchester, Academy
23 Oct: London, IndigO2

Doom announces UK tour

Gigs & Festivals

Mask-wearing rapper Doom has announced that he will tour the UK this November. The dates include a show at London’s Roundhouse where he will be joined by Wu-Tang Clan’s Ghostface Killah. The pair have recently worked together on a new collaborative project under the name Doom Starks

The first track to be released from the project, ‘Victory Laps’, is on sale now and can be heard below.

Tour dates:

3 Nov: Glasgow, The Arches
4 Nov: Manchester, HMV Ritz
5 Nov: London, Roundhouse (with Ghostface Killah)
7 Nov: Leeds, Academy
10 Nov: Oxford, Academy
11 Nov: Hatfield, The Forum
15 Nov: Bristol, Motion
16 Nov: Birmingham, Academy
18 Nov: Brighton, Concorde 2

The Rapture announce UK shows

Gigs & Festivals

To promote their forthcoming new album, ‘In The Grace Of Your Love’, The Rapture have announced further UK shows in October and November, in addition to previously announced September festival shows and headline dates. The album will be released by DFA on 5 Sep, and tickets for the tour will be available from Friday.

Tour dates:

2 Sep: Electric Picnic, Ireland
4 Sep: Jersey Live
7 Sep: Manchester, Club Academy
8 Sep: London, XOYO
28 Oct: Leeds, Cockpit
29 Oct: Coventry, Kasbah
30 Oct: Glasgow, SWG3
2 Nov: London, Koko
3 Nov: Brighton, Coalition

Festival line-up update – 27 Jul 2011

Artist News Festival Line-Up Update Gigs & Festivals

ATP CURATED BY JEFF MAGNUM, Butlins Holiday Centre, Minehead, 2-4 Dec: Harp-strumming folk waif Joanna Newsom joins the Jeff Magnum-curated ATP bill, closely followed by Thurston Moore, Sebadoh, The Mountain Goats, US electro folk outfit Tall Firs and jazz collective Sun Ra Arkestra. They join overall host Jeff on a line-up that also boasts Fleet Foxes, Yann Tiersen, Low, The Fall and Boredoms. www.atpfestival.com/events/jeffmangum.php

ATP NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, Butlin’s Resort, Minehead, Somerset, 9-11 Dec: Co-curated by Les Savy Fav, Battles and Caribou, this festival is set to host fresh bookings including Cults, jazz legend Pharoah Sanders, Matias Aguayo, Violent Soho and that familiar-sounding Sun Ra Arkestra. A DJ set from Simian Mobile Disco is also newly on the cards. Already on the bill are Holy Fuck, Gary Numan, Washed Out, No Age, Archers Of Loaf, Hot Snakes, Marnie Stern, Wild Flag, Surfer Blood, and lots more very good types. www.atpfestival.com/events/nightmare2011.php

Festival review: Latitude 2011

Festival Reviews

Diversity remained the predominant feature of the Latitude manifesto for its sixth edition at Henham Park last week. Naturally, this meant that it found itself offering to be a great many things to many different people, but somehow harmony was achieved. With Latitude 2011, Festival Republic managed to create an environment akin to an alternate universe where glittery faced teenagers were happy to revel alongside a pair of septuagenarians with their grandkids in tow.

Admittedly, there is little that is edgy about Latitude. Instead, it focuses on safety, family friendliness and general pleasance. It achieves this in abundance, but by doing so it does risk feeling a bit Cath Kidston at times, though the array of artists and activities on offer are its saving grace.

The strains of the Phantom Band were carried on the wind as we set up camp in the glorious Suffolk sunshine, choosing a paddock of multi-coloured sheep for neighbours. This idyllic festival scenario was made even better when we moseyed down through the woods to the Sunrise Arena to see the great Scots in the flesh.

We mainly flitted between the Obelisk Arena and the Sunrise Arena where Glasser competed with Jenny & Johnny for best in show, though it was Caribou who absolutely owned Friday. That said, after a phenomenal year, it felt fitting that The National should graduate from the Word Arena to close main stage proceedings on Friday. Generally, stage choice was spot on throughout the weekend, with a couple of exceptions; Bright Eyes and Iron & Wine seemed badly accommodated in the cavernous Obelisk Arena.

On Saturday, the rain Gods made us pay for our day in the sun as the heavens remained open for the duration. Irish Conor Oberst-alike Villagers shared the crowd with They Might Be Giants, whose puppetry and playground melodies ensured they were a hit with the kids.

Because of the sheer quantity of children in attendance, Latitude sometimes feels like a less comfy Butlins. Though there is a family campsite, there’s always one who slips through the net and that tiny baby up in Guest Camping made sure everyone within a 50 tent radius knew how rubbish it was feeling at 5am. Like suitcases and high-heeled wellies, perhaps babies are one of those things that should not be at festival campsites.

But never mind – we were all crying like babies when Foals announced that the band would be put on hiatus after their rapturous Saturday night performance in the Word Arena. Luckily, despite a late start, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble helped us to forget our troubles.

Of course, Latitude offers the festival-goer much more than great bands and tepid lager. Off piste activities include comedy, cabaret, film, dance, theatre, poetry and art, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The roster of comedians lined-up for the Comedy Tent was possibly the best I have seen at a festival, save Edinburgh. Dylan Moran, Mark Watson, Jason Byrne, Danny Bhoy and David O’Doherty were amongst the acts served up as laughing fodder.

Meanwhile, the Literature Tent played host to all kinds of bookish luminaries, Q&A’s and lively debates and the Poetry tent held a steady stream of poetry bigwigs, including Saul Williams. And as the arenas wind down the festival’s underbelly comes alive with all kinds of oddities, including The Electric Hotel installation, performance art and silent disco where onlookers are piped audio via headphones.

Scandinavian contemporary choir Scala & Kolacny Brothers soothed even the sorest of heads on Sunday morning, before Anna Calvi took to the stage, to a relatively sparse audience it has to be said, presumably something she’ll see less of post that recent Mercury Prize nomination. Conversely, an immense mob packed into the Word Arena for OMD, though I cynically suspected that the monsoon happening outside may have contributed to this. Lykke Li followed suit and then it was time for Eels who finished in time for us to catch the end of Suede’s headlining set.

Latitude is a bit of a gem, actually. A festival where people-pleasing feels higher up on the agenda than money-making is refreshing. MB

Plácido Domingo becomes IFPI chair

Business News Industry People Labels & Publishers

Perhaps taking a lead from UK Music, the International Federation Of The Phonographic Industry has appointed a celebrity to head up the organisation. Though while Fergal Sharkey is the full-time CEO of the cross-sector British music industry group, opera star Plácido Domingo will take the more hands-off role of Chairman at the record industry’s global trade body, supporting existing CEO Frances Moore.

Nevertheless, says IFPI’s press release, as Chair Domingo “will play a leading role promoting IFPI’s priorities internationally, including improving copyright legislation, promoting the work of music rights owners, helping develop a thriving digital music sector and supporting the industry’s public education efforts around digital music”. Moore’s predecessors in the CEO job also took the Chairman title at IFPI, though presumably it’s hoped having someone as well known and respected as Domingo in that position instead will open more doors, especially in the all important political sphere.

Confirming his appointment, Domingo told reporters: “It is a great honour to be invited to become the chairman of IFPI. I have always passionately believed in the importance of respecting talent and in the rights of all those who perform, create, produce and invest in music. Today, the world of music and in fact most of the arts is undergoing enormous changes and challenges. Technology, which on one hand allows artists to reach many more than ever before, has led to a debate about how to find a way to protect the intellectual property rights of artists, creators and all those living and working in the world of music. I look forward to being a part of those discussions”.

Meanwhile Moore added: “It is a privilege to welcome Plácido Domingo to IFPI. He is an artist of unrivalled talent and authority who speaks from the heart about the issues that matter to him. His forceful advocacy for the intellectual property rights of the music sector comes at a pivotal moment, as governments in many countries consider new legislation to curb piracy and help develop the legitimate digital music business”.

Representatives for each of the major record companies and, speaking for the indies, Dramatico’s Mike Batt, all issued statements welcoming the appointment, but I won’t bore you with them all now. They basically all said “wa-woo-za, Plácido is the king, it’s fabtastic he’s going to lead us into battle”. Or something similar.

Universal Publishing exec to head up Motown

Business News Industry People Labels & Publishers

Everyone now seems certain that Ethiopia Habtemariam, who heads up urban music at Universal Music Publishing in the US, will take over as boss of the major’s Motown record company. According to Billboard she is currently negotiating terms with Universal about switching from publishing to recordings.

As previously reported, Sylvia Rhone stood down as Motown boss in May after the Motown Republic division of the major was given to newish exec Barry Weiss as one half of his new super-division, which encompasses both the Motown Rupublic and Island Def Jam operations. Although initially set to be given a brand new division to run at Universal, it now looks likely Rhone will follow her former boss Doug Morris to Sony Music.

Habtemariam’s role atop a streamlined Motown will be less expansive than the one Rhone fulfilled, and will be much more focused on A&R. Sources have told Billboard the new look Motown will have a modestly sized team of about twelve, tapping into back office and promotional resources within Island Def Jam when such things are required.

An announcement about the next stage in the development of Weiss’s new Universal super-division is expected pretty soon.

Bands shouldn’t rush to Google+

Digital

American digital marketing expert Bob Baker has written a column for Hypebot cautioning artists about rushing to build a profile on Google+, the web giant’s latest and much hyped attempt to enter the social networking space. Unlike past efforts by Google to offer users profile and networking tools, Google+ has been generally well received, and already has 20 million people signed up.

So, does that mean that, in the same way every band made the leap from MySpace to Facebook, now they should looking to build a new presence on Google+? Well, Baker reckons artists should tread carefully before putting too much energy into launching themselves on the new social network. Firstly because, for the time being at least, Google+ is restricted to individual subscribers who must sign up using their real names. Baker says that anyone setting up band profiles, or registering under a stage name, may well find their account is deleted by Google, which is keen to keep its new social network restricted to individual real people.

Baker also reveals that Google does have plans to allow businesses and brands to have a Google+ presence down the line, with a different kind of profile option which could be launched within the year. As these profiles are surely going to be more appropriate for performers, it’s possible musicians should hold off until said profiles are available, as there’s a high chance turning an individual profile into a brand/band profile at a later date won’t be easy. Remember how artists set up personal Facebook profiles for fans, before discovering groups, and before Facebook finally launched its proper artist profile function? Don’t go through all the pain of setting up multiple profiles again.

You can read Baker’s Hypebot post here.

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